Patterns of Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

The aim of this work was to characterize patterns of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in a hemodialysis population at high risk for cardiovascular events. The prevalence and distribution of LGE and its relationship to left ventricular mass (LVM) and function in this population is unknown. Chronic hemodialysis patients at high risk for cardiovascular events-age >50 years, diabetes, or known cardiovascular disease-were enrolled prior to concerns regarding nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 24 patients (age, 59 +/- 11 years; dialysis, 45 +/- 38 months) and included steady-state free precession cine imaging and late gadolinium-enhanced, phase-sensitive, inversion-recovery gradient echo images. Left ventricular mass, volumes, and function were calculated and indexed to body surface area. A 16-segment analysis was performed to calculate percentage of LGE, LV wall thickness, and percentage of wall thickening. Left ventricular ejection fraction was 48 +/- 15%, and the LV mass index was 100 +/- 52 g/m(2). Late gadolinium enhancement was observed in 79% (19 of 24) of patients in 3 distinct patterns: infarct-related (32%, 6 of 19), diffuse (37%, 7 of 19), and focal noninfarct (37%, 7 of 19). Late gadolinium enhancement constituted 15 +/- 18% of the LVM and correlated with LVM (r = 0.44, p = 0.03). A significant, inverse relationship existed between segmental LGE and the percentage of wall thickening (p > 0.0001). Excluding infarct-related segments, as end-diastolic wall thickness increased, so did LGE (p < 0.0001), and as LGE increased, the percentage of wall thickening decreased (p = 0.0012). After 23 +/- 3 months of follow-up, 1 patient had developed nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Seven of the patients (29%) had developed a hard cardiovascular event, 5 of 19 (26%) with LGE and 2 of 5 (40%) without. Late gadolinium enhancement is prevalent in the hemodialysis population and its extent is related to LVM. Most cases of LGE are not infarct-related and are associated with hypertrophied, dysfunctional LV segments. Non-infarct-related LGE may signify fibrosis from LV hypertrophy and/or an infiltrative process. Further studies in this patient population will not be possible due to the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.